However(used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or seems to contradict something that has been said previously [ˌhaʊˈɛvər]), (punctuation mark used to separate clauses or phrases)these(plural of 'this', referring to the stories mentioned previously [ðiz]) stories(narratives, either true or fictional, recounting events [ˈstɔriz]) were(past tense of 'to be', indicating the state of the stories [wər]) never(at no time in the past or future; not ever [ˈnɛvər]) fully(completely; entirely [ˈfʊli]) believed(accepted as true or real [bɪˈlivd]). (punctuation mark used to indicate the end of a sentence)Rumours(pieces of information or stories passed from person to person without proof of accuracy [ˈrumərz]) of(expressing the relationship between a part and a whole [əv]) a(indefinite article, referring to any farm [ə]) wonderful(inspiring delight, pleasure, or admiration; extremely good [ˈwəndərfəl]) farm(an area of land and its buildings used for growing crops or rearing animals [fɑrm]), (punctuation mark used to separate clauses or phrases)where(at or in which; used to introduce a clause giving further information about a place [wɛr]) the(definite article, referring to specific human beings [ðə]) human beings(people; members of the species Homo sapiens [ˈjumən biɪŋz]) had been(past perfect tense of 'to be', indicating a state that existed before another past action [hæd bɪn]) turned out(forced to leave a place or position [tərnd aʊt]) and(used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]) the(definite article, referring to specific animals [ðə]) animals(living creatures that are not plants or human beings [ˈænəməlz]) managed(were in charge of; controlled [ˈmænɪʤd]) their own(belonging to or done by themselves [ðɛr oʊn]) affairs(matters; events; business [əˈfɛrz]), (punctuation mark used to separate clauses or phrases)continued(went on; persisted [kənˈtɪnjud]) to(expressing motion or direction toward a point, person, place, or thing [tɪ]) circulate(pass or move around; spread [ˈsərkjəˌleɪt]) in(expressing the situation of something that is or appears to be enclosed or surrounded by something else [ɪn]) vague(of uncertain, indefinite, or unclear character or meaning [veɪg]) and(used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]) distorted(pulled or twisted out of shape; giving a misleading or false account or impression [dɪˈstɔrtɪd]) forms(the visible shape or configuration of something [fɔrmz]), (punctuation mark used to separate clauses or phrases)and(used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]) throughout(all the way through; during the whole of [θruaʊt]) that(referring to a specific year previously mentioned or understood [ðət]) year(the period of time it takes the Earth to complete one revolution around the Sun [jɪr]) a(indefinite article, referring to any wave [ə]) wave(a sudden occurrence of or increase in a phenomenon, feeling, or emotion [weɪv]) of(expressing the relationship between a part and a whole [əv]) rebelliousness(showing a desire to resist authority, control, or convention [rəˈbɛliəsnəs]) ran(moved swiftly on foot [ræn]) through(expressing movement or direction inside and through something [θru]) the(definite article, referring to a specific countryside [ðə]) countryside(the land and scenery of a rural area [ˈkəntriˌsaɪd]). (punctuation mark used to indicate the end of a sentence)Bulls(adult male cattle [bʊlz]) which(used to introduce a relative clause giving further information about bulls [wɪʧ]) had(auxiliary verb used to form the past perfect tense [hæd]) always(at all times; on all occasions [ˈɔlˌweɪz]) been(past participle of 'to be' [bɪn]) tractable(easy to control or influence [ˈtræktəbəl]) suddenly(quickly and unexpectedly [ˈsədənli]) turned(changed in condition or nature [tərnd]) savage(fierce, violent, and uncontrolled [ˈsævɪʤ]), (punctuation mark used to separate clauses or phrases)sheep(a domesticated ruminant animal with a thick woolly coat [ʃip]) broke down(destroyed or removed by force [broʊk daʊn]) hedges(a fence or boundary formed by closely growing bushes or shrubs [ˈhɛʤɪz]) and(used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]) devoured(ate hungrily or quickly [dɪˈvaʊərd]) the(definite article, referring to specific clover [ðə]) clover(a herbaceous plant of the pea family with dense globular flower heads [ˈkloʊvər]), (punctuation mark used to separate clauses or phrases)cows(adult female cattle [kaʊz]) kicked(struck or propelled forcefully with the foot [kɪkt]) the(definite article, referring to a specific pail [ðə]) pail(a bucket [peɪl]) over(expressing movement or extension above or beyond a point or limit [ˈoʊvər]), (punctuation mark used to separate clauses or phrases)hunters(people who hunt wild animals [ˈhəntərz]) refused(showed unwillingness to do something [rɪfˈjuzd]) their(belonging to or associated with the hunters [ðɛr]) fences(barriers erected to mark boundaries or prevent passage [ˈfɛnsɪz]) and(used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]) shot(injured or killed by a bullet or arrow [ʃɑt]) their(belonging to or associated with the hunters [ðɛr]) riders(people who ride horses [ˈraɪdərz]) on(expressing movement to or toward a particular location [ɔn]) to(expressing motion or direction toward a point, person, place, or thing [tɪ]) the(definite article, referring to a specific side [ðə]) other(used to refer to one of two things or people, the one not already mentioned [ˈəðər]) side(a surface or aspect of something [saɪd]).(punctuation mark used to indicate the end of a sentence)Above all(most importantly; more than anything else [əˈbəv ɔl]), (punctuation mark used to separate clauses or phrases)the(definite article, referring to a specific tune [ðə]) tune(a sequence of musical notes forming a recognizable unit [tun]) and(used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]) even(used to emphasize something surprising or extreme [ˈivɪn]) the(definite article, referring to specific words [ðə]) words(units of language that have meaning and can be spoken or written [wərdz]) of(expressing the relationship between a part and a whole [əv]) Beasts of England(title of a song [bists əv ˈɪŋglənd]) were(past tense of 'to be', indicating the state of the tune and words [wər]) known(recognized, familiar, or understood [noʊn]) everywhere(in or to all places [ˈɛvriˌwɛr]). (punctuation mark used to indicate the end of a sentence)It(referring to the song 'Beasts of England' [ɪt]) had(auxiliary verb used to form the past perfect tense [hæd]) spread(extended or distributed over a wide area [sprɛd]) with(expressing accompaniment or association [wɪθ]) astonishing(extremely surprising or impressive [əˈstɑnɪʃɪŋ]) speed(the rate at which someone or something moves or operates [spid]). (punctuation mark used to indicate the end of a sentence)The(definite article, referring to specific human beings [ðə]) human beings(people; members of the species Homo sapiens [ˈjumən biɪŋz]) could(past tense of 'can', expressing ability or possibility [kʊd]) not(used to express negation [nɑt]) contain(keep within limits; restrain [kənˈteɪn]) their(belonging to or associated with the human beings [ðɛr]) rage(violent, uncontrollable anger [reɪʤ]) when(at or during the time that [wɪn]) they(referring to the human beings [ðeɪ]) heard(perceived with the ear [hərd]) this(referring to the song 'Beasts of England' [ðɪs]) song(a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing [sɔŋ]), (punctuation mark used to separate clauses or phrases)though(despite the fact that; although [ðoʊ]) they(referring to the human beings [ðeɪ]) pretended(behaved so as to make it appear that something is the case when in fact it is not [priˈtɛndɪd]) to(expressing motion or direction toward a point, person, place, or thing [tɪ]) think(have a particular belief or idea [θɪŋk]) it(referring to the song 'Beasts of England' [ɪt]) merely(simply; only [ˈmɪrli]) ridiculous(deserving or inviting derision or mockery; absurd [rɪˈdɪkjələs]). (punctuation mark used to indicate the end of a sentence)They(referring to the human beings [ðeɪ]) could(past tense of 'can', expressing ability or possibility [kʊd]) not(used to express negation [nɑt]) understand(perceive the intended meaning of (words, a language, or a speaker [ˌəndərˈstænd]), (punctuation mark used to separate clauses or phrases)they(referring to the human beings [ðeɪ]) said(past tense of 'say', to utter words [sɛd]), (punctuation mark used to separate clauses or phrases)how(in what way or manner [haʊ]) even(used to emphasize something surprising or extreme [ˈivɪn]) animals(living creatures that are not plants or human beings [ˈænəməlz]) could(past tense of 'can', expressing ability or possibility [kʊd]) bring themselves(force oneself to do something unpleasant or difficult [brɪŋ ðɛmˈsɛlvz]) to(expressing motion or direction toward a point, person, place, or thing [tɪ]) sing(make musical sounds with the voice [sɪŋ]) such(of the type previously mentioned [səʧ]) contemptible(deserving contempt; despicable [kənˈtɛmptəbəl]) rubbish(worthless or nonsensical material; nonsense [ˈrəbɪʃ]). (punctuation mark used to indicate the end of a sentence)Any(one or some or every of a number of things [ˈɛni]) animal(living creatures that are not plants or human beings [ˈænəməl]) caught(having been apprehended or detected in the act of doing something [kɔt]) singing(the action of making musical sounds with the voice [ˈsɪŋɪŋ]) it(referring to the song 'Beasts of England' [ɪt]) was(past tense of 'to be', indicating the state of the animal [wɑz]) given(freely transferred to someone [ˈgɪvɪn]) a(indefinite article, referring to any flogging [ə]) flogging(beating (someone) with a whip or stick as a punishment [ˈflɑgɪŋ]) on(expressing movement to or toward a particular location [ɔn]) the(definite article, referring to a specific spot [ðə]) spot(the exact place or position [spɑt]). (punctuation mark used to indicate the end of a sentence)And(used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]) yet(but at the same time; but nevertheless [jɛt]) the(definite article, referring to a specific song [ðə]) song(a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing [sɔŋ]) was(past tense of 'to be', indicating the state of the song [wɑz]) irrepressible(not able to be controlled or restrained [ˌɪrəˈprɛsəbəl]). (punctuation mark used to indicate the end of a sentence)The(definite article, referring to specific blackbirds [ðə]) blackbirds(a common Eurasian songbird [ˈblækbərdz]) whistled(emitted a clear, high-pitched sound by forcing air through the teeth or pursed lips [ˈwɪsəld]) it(referring to the song 'Beasts of England' [ɪt]) in(expressing the situation of something that is or appears to be enclosed or surrounded by something else [ɪn]) the(definite article, referring to specific hedges [ðə]) hedges(a fence or boundary formed by closely growing bushes or shrubs [ˈhɛʤɪz]), (punctuation mark used to separate clauses or phrases)the(definite article, referring to specific pigeons [ðə]) pigeons(a stout-bodied bird with short legs and a small head [ˈpɪʤənz]) cooed(made a soft murmuring sound [cooed]) it(referring to the song 'Beasts of England' [ɪt]) in(expressing the situation of something that is or appears to be enclosed or surrounded by something else [ɪn]) the(definite article, referring to specific elms [ðə]) elms(a tall deciduous tree with rough, serrated leaves [ɛlmz]), (punctuation mark used to separate clauses or phrases)it(referring to the song 'Beasts of England' [ɪt]) got(came into possession of; received [gɑt]) into(expressing movement or direction to the inside of something [ˈɪntu]) the(definite article, referring to a specific din [ðə]) din(a loud, unpleasant, and prolonged noise [dɪn]) of(expressing the relationship between a part and a whole [əv]) the(definite article, referring to specific smithies [ðə]) smithies(a blacksmith's workshop [smithies]) and(used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]) the(definite article, referring to a specific tune [ðə]) tune(a sequence of musical notes forming a recognizable unit [tun]) of(expressing the relationship between a part and a whole [əv]) the(definite article, referring to specific church bells [ðə]) church bells(bells in a church tower, rung to announce services or events [ʧərʧ bɛlz]). (punctuation mark used to indicate the end of a sentence)And(used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]) when(at or during the time that [wɪn]) the(definite article, referring to specific human beings [ðə]) human beings(people; members of the species Homo sapiens [ˈjumən biɪŋz]) listened(gave attention to a sound [ˈlɪsənd]) to(expressing motion or direction toward a point, person, place, or thing [tɪ]) it(referring to the song 'Beasts of England' [ɪt]), (punctuation mark used to separate clauses or phrases)they(referring to the human beings [ðeɪ]) secretly(in a way that is intended to avoid being noticed or known by other people [ˈsikrɪtli]) trembled(shook involuntarily, typically as a result of anxiety, excitement, or frailty [ˈtrɛmbəld]), (punctuation mark used to separate clauses or phrases)hearing(perceiving with the ear [ˈhirɪŋ]) in(expressing the situation of something that is or appears to be enclosed or surrounded by something else [ɪn]) it(referring to the song 'Beasts of England' [ɪt]) a(indefinite article, referring to any prophecy [ə]) prophecy(a prediction [ˈprɑfəsi]) of(expressing the relationship between a part and a whole [əv]) their(belonging to or associated with the human beings [ðɛr]) future(happening or operating at a later time [fˈjuʧər]) doom(death, destruction, or some other terrible fate [dum]).
Early in October(refers to the beginning part of the month of October [ˈərli ɪn ɑkˈtoʊbər]), when the corn was cut and stacked(describes the process of harvesting corn, where it is cut down and then arranged in stacks or piles [wɪn ðə kɔrn wɑz kət ənd stækt]) and some of it was already threshed(means that a portion of the harvested corn has already undergone the process of separating the grains from the stalks and husks [ənd səm əv ɪt wɑz ɔˈrɛdi threshed]), a flight of pigeons(a group of pigeons flying together [ə flaɪt əv ˈpɪʤənz]) came whirling through the air(describes the pigeons moving rapidly and spinning as they fly [keɪm ˈwərlɪŋ θru ðə ɛr]) and alighted(means to land or settle after a flight [ənd alighted]) in the yard of Animal Farm(specifies the location where the pigeons landed, which is the yard of the farm named Animal Farm [ɪn ðə jɑrd əv ˈænəməl fɑrm]) in the wildest excitement(describes the state of great agitation or enthusiasm [ɪn ðə ˈwaɪldɪst ɪkˈsaɪtmənt]). Jones and all his men(refers to Mr. Jones, the former owner of the farm, and his workers [ʤoʊnz ənd ɔl hɪz mɛn]), with half a dozen others(indicates that there are also six additional people involved [wɪθ hæf ə ˈdəzən ˈəðərz]) from Foxwood and Pinchfield(specifies that these additional people are from the neighboring farms named Foxwood and Pinchfield [frəm ˈfɑksˌwʊd ənd pinchfield]), had entered the fivebarred gate(means they passed through a gate with five horizontal bars [hæd ˈɛnərd ðə fivebarred geɪt]) and were coming up the cart-track(indicates they are moving along a path used for carts [ənd wər ˈkəmɪŋ əp ðə cart-track]) that led to the farm(specifies that the cart-track goes to the farm [ðət lɛd tɪ ðə fɑrm]). They were all carrying sticks(describes that everyone was holding sticks [ðeɪ wər ɔl ˈkɛriɪŋ stɪks]), except Jones(indicates that Jones is an exception to the previous statement [ɪkˈsɛpt ʤoʊnz]), who was marching ahead(means Jones was walking in front [hu wɑz ˈmɑrʧɪŋ əˈhɛd]) with a gun in his hands(specifies that Jones was holding a gun [wɪθ ə gən ɪn hɪz hænz]). Obviously(clearly; evidently [ˈɑbviəsli]) they were going to attempt(they were planning to try [ðeɪ wər goʊɪŋ tɪ əˈtɛmpt]) the recapture of the farm(taking back control of the farm [ðə riˈkæpʧər əv ðə fɑrm]).
This(refers to a situation or event previously mentioned [ðɪs]) had long been expected(something that people knew was going to happen for a long time [hæd lɔŋ bɪn ɪkˈspɛktɪd]), and(conjunction used to connect two related clauses [ənd]) all preparations(everything that was done to get ready for something [ɔl ˌprɛpərˈeɪʃənz]) had been made(were completed or finished [hæd bɪn meɪd]). Snowball(a character's name [sˈnoʊˌbɔl]), who(relative pronoun referring to Snowball [hu]) had studied(past perfect tense of 'study', meaning he had learned about it before the current time [hæd ˈstədid]) an old book(a book that is not new [ən oʊld bʊk]) of Julius Caesar’s campaigns(referring to the military campaigns led by Julius Caesar [əv ˈʤuljəs ˈsizərz kæmˈpeɪnz]) which(relative pronoun referring to the book [wɪʧ]) he(referring to Snowball [hi]) had found(past perfect tense of 'find', meaning he discovered it before the current time [hæd faʊnd]) in the farmhouse(inside the main house on the farm [ɪn ðə ˈfɑrmˌhaʊs]), was in charge of(had the responsibility for [wɑz ɪn ʧɑrʤ əv]) the defensive operations(the actions taken to protect against an attack [ðə dɪˈfɛnsɪv ˌɑpərˈeɪʃənz]). He(referring to Snowball [hi]) gave(past tense of 'give', meaning he issued [geɪv]) his orders(the instructions he was giving [hɪz ˈɔrdərz]) quickly(done in a fast manner [kˈwɪkli]), and(conjunction used to connect two related clauses [ənd]) in a couple of minutes(within a short amount of time, approximately two minutes [ɪn ə ˈkəpəl əv ˈmɪnəts]) every animal(all of the animals [ˈɛvəri ˈænəməl]) was at his post(was in the designated location or position [wɑz æt hɪz poʊst]).